Single handle faucet valve

ABSTRACT

The single handle faucet disclosed herein comprises a faucet body which has a pair of inlets for hot and cold water and a liquid outlet. A spherical valve body is mounted for swinging movement within the body and has a spherical surface that is complementary to a similar compressible spherical surface on the faucet body. The valve body has passages extending from the spherical surface of the valve body. The passages of the valve body and the passages of the faucet body are adapted to be selectively aligned.

States Patet 1451 Mar. 12, 1974 [541 SINGLE HANDLE FAUCET VALVE3,667,503 6/1972 Farrell et a1. 1317/6254 9 1 W [76] Inventor: TerenceG. Hare, 22600 Middlebelt 3'693660 972 heelock 137/625 4 G11,Farmington, Mich. 48024 Plim xa in S o 777* H I [22] Filed: Mar. 20,1972 Attorney, Agent, or F irm Barnes, Kisselle, Raisch & 21 App1.No.:236,079 Chme [57] ABSTRACT if C? gig z fifdg The single handle faucetdisclosed herein comprises a d 625 4 636 faucet body which has a pair ofinlets for hot and cold 1 1e mm 1 636 water and a liquid outlet. Aspherical valve body is mounted for swinging movement within the bodyand has a spherical surface that is complementary to a sim- [56]References Clted ilar compressible spherical surface on the faucet body.UNITED STATES PATENTS The valve body has passages extending from the3,623,510 11/1971 Hare et a1. l37/6l4.17 X spherical surface of thevalve body. The passages of 3,l67,086 1/1965 1416113151 l37/625.41 X thevalve body and the passages f the faucet body are 3,526,250 9/1970Miller 137/6363 X adapted to be selectively aligned 3,472,279 /1969Sandersonm l37/636.3 X 3,506,036 4/1970 Hare 137/6363 22 Claims, 8Drawing Figures F 4 6 l 23 l 45 42 1 i9 57 /a 1 fiz 1 /0 /9 36 1 37 k .61 /Z N i 1 r l 0 74 i 1 j PATENTED MAR I 2 m4 SHEET 2 OF 2 SINGLE HANDLEFAUCET VALVE This application discloses and claims subject matterdisclosed in the copending application Ser. No. 201,347, filed Nov. 23,1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,747,641, issued July 24, 1973, titled SingleHandle Faucet Valve of Terence G. Hare and Hugh McCormick.

This invention relates to water faucets and particularly to singlehandle faucets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the faucet art it is common to have whatis known as a single handle faucet wherein manipulation of a singlehandle controls both the degree of mixture of hot and cold water as wellas the volume of water which is emitted.

In US. Pat. No. 3,506,036, dated Apr. 14, 1970 of Terence G. Hare, thereis disclosed and claimed a single handle faucet which comprises a faucetbody which has a pair of inlets for hot and cold water and a liquidoutlet. A valve body is mounted for swinging movement in a single planewithin the faucet body and has a spherical surface that is complementaryto a similar compressible spherical surface on the faucet body. Thevalve body has a valve seat therein and passages extend from thespherical surface of the valve body to the valve seat. A valve stem ismounted within the valve body and supports a bib which is movable towardand away from the valve seat. In one form, seals are provided on thevalve and comprise spaced annular sealing members between the valve bodyand faucet body. In another form, the seals comprise a first annularsealing member and a spherical sealing member interposed between thespherical surface of the valve and the valve body.

In the copending application Ser. No. 844,869, filed July 25, 1969, US.Pat. No. 3,623,510, issued Nov. 30, 1971, titled Single Handle FaucetValve of Terence G. Hare and Hugh McCormick, there is disclosed animproved single handle faucet that has a novel seal arrangement whichminimizes any tendency for cross flow between the passages of the faucetbody.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a single handlefaucet valve wherein said selective control is achieved without the useof a valve stem; wherein the valve can be constructed at low cost;wherein improved sealing is provided between the valve body and faucetbody; wherein leakage between the hot and cold inlets is eliminated andentirely avoided; wherein specific provision is made for supplyingsufficient water to a diverter for, in turn, supplying a sprayattachment; and to provide a modified form of faucet valve whereinselective control is achieved without the use of a valve stem.

SUMMARY The single handle faucet disclosed herein comprises a faucetbody which has a pair of inlets for hot and cold water and a liquidoutlet. A valve body is mounted for swinging movement within the faucetbody and has a spherical surface that is complementary to a similarcompressible spherical surface on the faucet body. The valve body haspassages which extend from the spherical-surface of the valve body. Thepassages of the valve body and the passages of the faucet body areadapted to be selectively aligned. Seals are provided on the valve. Aspherical compressible sealing surface is provided by a resilient bodyhaving a spherical relatively incompressible layer of a low frictionmaterial thereon which is dimensionally stable and resistant to hotwater. The resilient body has a thickened portion in the area of theinlets of the faucet body which thickened portion extends into a recessof the faucet body. The faucet body further includes novel passagespermitting free flow of water therethrough. The faucet valve furtherincludes a novel configuration of the resilient body and a novelarrangement for controlling the sealing pressure between the resilientbody and the valve body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary part sectional viewof a faucet embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of one of the sealing members.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the faucet.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portionof the faucet valve.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another part of the faucet valve.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the part shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the faucet 10 is adapted to bemounted on a sink 11 or the like, as presently described. The faucet It)comprises a faucet body 12 which has spaced vertical inlets 13, 14 inthe lower end thereof into which pipes 15, 16 extend. For reasonspresently apparent, the pipes l5, l6 cross one another intermediatetheir ends as at 17 in order that the hot and cold water can be suppliedthereto in accordance with conventional code requirements. Body 12 isformed with a cylindrical cavity 18 that has an open upper end. Thelower wall of the cavity is formed with a generally spherical surface19. Passages 13, 14 communicate through passageways 20, 21 with thesurface 19. A spherical valve body 22 which has a spherical lower endextends intov the cavity 18 with the spherical surface thereof engaginga spherical seating surface on a sealing member 23 (FIG. 4).

As shown in FIGS. 1 4, sealing member 23 comprises a body 24 of rubberor other similar resilient material and a layer 25 of relativelyincompressible dime-nsionally stable low friction material bonded to theupper surface thereof. A satisfactory material comprises Teflon. Asshown in ,FIG. 4, the sealing member 23, and particularly the rubberbody 24 thereof, includes a central thickened portion 26 which isgenerally circular and extends into a complementary recess 27, thebottom surface 28 of the recess being generally concave. The recess 27has outwardly tapered side walls 29 against which complementary walls 30of the thickened portion 26 engage. The portion of the rubber body 24surrounding the thickened portion 26 is formed with annular serrations31 surrounding the portion 26 in order that the body may have betterresilient sealing contact with the spherical portion of the surface 19.The sealing member 23 also includes a peripheral lip 32 that engages acomplementary shoulder 33 on the faucet body ll2. Finally, the rubberbody 24 of the sealing member 23 includes a small axial projection 34,radially outwardly beyond thickened portion 26 that extends into acomplementary opening 35 to circumferentially locate the sealing memberand thereby align openings 36, 37 therein with the upper ends of thepassageways 20, 21.

An annular seal 38 which has a generally obtuse angle cross section inthe untensioned state is provided adjacent the upper end of thespherical portion 22 and is urged into sealing contact therewith by acollar 39 that extends into the cylindrical cavity 18 and has surfaces40, 41 that extend upwardly and inwardly and horizontally, respectively,to engage the surfaces of the seal 38 and urge the inclined surfaceagainst the surface of the spherical member 22. The surface of collar 39which engages the seal 38 has annular ribs 42 thereon which firmly gripthe seal 38 and urge it against the spherical surface of the valve body22. The collar 39 is formed with an annular groove 43 in which an O-ring44 is seated to provide a seal between the seal collar 39 and the wallof the cavity 17.

A guide ring 45 extends within the cavity 117 over the seal collar 39.Guide ring 45 includes a peripheral flange 46 that engages the upper endof the seal collar 39. A flat sinuous annular spring 47 is interposedbetween a shoulder 48 on faucet nut 49 and flange 46. Faucet nut 49 isthreaded on the upper end of the valve body 12 and holds the guide ring45 and, in turn, the collar 39 in position to, in turn, cause the seal38 to engage tbe surface of the spherical portion of the valve body 22and urge it toward surface 25. When the faucet nut 49 is rotated, ashoulder 50 thereon engages the upper end of the faucet body 12 limitingthe axial movement of the nut 49 onto the body 12 and as a result thepressure with which the seal ring 39 is held against the valve body 22is controlled.

The valve ball 22 includes a generally cylindrical rod 51 which isD-shaped in cross section. The lower end of rod 51 is embedded in valvebody 22 and the rod 51 extends upwardly through a generally triangularopening 52 in the guide ring 45.

The seal 38 is preferably made ofa low friction material which isresistant to hot water and is dimensionally stable. A satisfactorymaterial comprises Teflon. The

valve body 22 is also preferably made of a low friction dimensionallystable material that is resistant to hot water and is different frommaterial of seals 38, 23. A satisfactory material comprises a phenylineoxide type such as made by General Electric Company, Pittsfield,Massachusetts, and sold under the trademark, NO- RYL.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4, and 6, the spherical valve body 22 includes asingle passage 53 which extends radially inwardly from the surface 22.The passage 53 communicates with a diametral passage 54 that extendsfrom the upper end of the passage radially outwardly to the periphery ofthe valve body 22 at a right angle to the axis of the passage 53. Theconstruction is such that the valve body 22 can be molded in a singleintegral piece. The arrangement is such that the valve body 22 issubstantially symmetrical so that differential shrinkage is minimized ina single piece.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cylindrical sheet metal sleeve 55 isrotatably mounted and surrounds the body 12 with O-rings 5658, inannular recesses in the body engaging the interior of the sleeve toprovide a seal.

Water can flow outwardly into a space 53 between the valve body I2 andthe sleeve 55 and through an opening 59 in sleeve 55 to the spout 60 onsleeve 55.

Referring to FIG. 2, the faucet body 12 further includes an axialdiverter passage 61 into which a tube diverter 62 extends. The divertertube 62 includes an on/off valve and spray head on the end thereof (notshown) which upon depression, causes a diverter valve 63 of conventionalconstruction in the end 64 of the spout 60 to be actuated so that thewater is diverted from the spout 60 to a return tube 65 to the areaadjacent the upper end of the passage and in turn to the diverter tube62. In the construction shown, the return tube 65 in the spout 66 has aflared portion 66 spaced from one end engaging the metal sleeve 55. Theother end 67 extends into a recess 68 in body 64 on the end of the spoutso that no soldering is needed to retain the internal tube in position.

By swinging the knob and, in turn, the valve body 22, the degree ofregistry of opening with respect to passages 20, 21 may be controlled;the extent of registry determining the relative amounts of hot and coldwater which are delivered to the passage.

It has been found that the provision of a tapered wall 30 on thethickened portion or projection 26 of the sealing member 23 as well as acomplementary tapered wall 29 on the recess 27 permits a more readyachievement of sealing when the faucet is assembled since thecomplementary tapered surfaces 29, 30 facilitate interengagement andmovement of the sealing member 23 into sealing position. Thus, thedegree of force required to tighten the nut 49 is lessened and a betterseal is insured. Furthermore, the configuration of the projection 26 andrecess 27 minimize any tendency of the rubber body 24 of the sealingmember 23 to move outwardly out of the recess 27 when the nut 49 istightened.

By providing a stop against which the nut 49 is tightened, together withthe spring 47 interposed between the nut 49 and the seal 38, a uniformsealing pressure is provided each and every time that the faucet isassembled or disassembled and overtightening with resultant damage tothe parts is eliminated.

The provision ofa single passage 53 in the valve body 22 results in aconstruction wherein the passage is at all times in overlyingrelationship to the thickened portion 26 of the sealing member 23. As aresult, there is no variation in sealing pressure as the valve body 22is manipulated with respect to the faucet body I2. This insures the samesealing pressure under all water conditions and assists in propermaintenance of the seals since there is no fluctuation or change in thesealing pressure as the valve body is manipulated.

As heretofore stated, by providing a substantially symmetrical valvebody 22, the manufacture of the valve body 22 is facilitated and inaddition the valve body 22 has a longer life since it is substantiallysymmetrical and therefore there are no unbalanced forces in use.

Spring 47 also acts as a resilient member allowing body 22 to moveslightly in any direction to conform to any shrinkage imperfections inthe molding of the body 22. Thus providing better sealing and ease ofoperation.

I claim:

ll. In a single handle faucet, the combination comprising a faucet body,

said faucet body having a pair of liquid inlets for hot and cold waterand a liquid outlet, said faucet body having a generally sphericalsurface, a sealing member mounted on said Surface and having a centrallylocated axially thickened portion, said faucet body having acomplementary recess into which said thickened portion of said sealingmember extends, said thickened portion and said recess into which saidthickened portion extends having complementary tapered peripheralsurfaces,

said faucet body having passages extending from said inlets to saidrecess in said faucet body,

said sealing member having openings through said thickened portionaligned with the passages in said faucet body,

a valve body mounted for swinging movement within said faucet body,

said valve body having a spherical surface complementary to saidspherical surface on said sealing member,

said valve body having passage means extending from one area on theperiphery of said spherical surface of said valve body to another areaof the periphery thereof to said valve seat,

one end of said passage means terminating along said spherical surfacesuch that said passage means is adjacent said thickened portion of saidsealing member in all portions of said valve body,

and means for guiding said valve body to selectively change thecommunication of the passage means in the valve body with the inlets ofsaid faucet body.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of ribssurrounding said thickened portion.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve body includesa single passage overlying said spaced passages in said thickenedportion of said sealing member.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve body includesa diametral opening extending therethrough and a single passageextending radially and intersecting said diametral opening.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall ofsaid thickened portion and said recess in said faucet body taperradially outwardly.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the angle of taper ismore axial than transverse with respect to the faucet body.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 including a second sealingmember on another portion of said valve body,

a locking member mounted on said faucet body,

and a spring interposed between said locking member and said secondsealing member,

means limiting the movement of said locking member on said faucet bodywhereby there is a predetermined spring pressure of said second sealingmember on said valve body urging said valve body against said firstsealing member such that the valve body is urged into a predeterminedpressure against said first sealing member.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 including a guide memberinterposed between said second sealing member and said spring.

9. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring comprises asinuous spring having spaced substantially flat surfaces engaging saidsecond sealing member at circumfercntially spaced points.

10. The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein said locking membercomprises a member threaded on said faucet body and interengagingsurfaces between said member and said faucet body limiting the extent ofaxial movement of said member onto said faucet body.

11. In a single handle faucet, the combination comprising a faucet body,

said faucet body having a pair of liquid inlets for hot and cold waterand a liquid outlet,

said faucet body having a generally spherical surface,

a sealing member mounted on said surface and having a centrally locatedgenerally circular axially thickened portion,

said faucet body having a complementary recess into which said thickenedportion of said sealing member extends,

said thickened portion and said recess into which said thickened portionextends having complementary tapered peripheral surfaces,

said faucet body having passages extending from said inlets to saidrecess in said faucet body.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including a plurality of ribssurrounding said thickened portion.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11 including a layer ofrelatively incompressible dimensionally stable low friction plasticmaterial on said sealing member,

said sealing member having an axial projection thereon,

said faucet body having an opening into which said projection extends.

14. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein the peripheral wall ofsaid thickened portion and said recess in said faucet body taperradially outwardly.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14 wherein the angle of taper ismore axial than transverse with respect to the faucet body.

16. A sealing member for a single handle faucet valve comprising a bodyof resilient material,

said body having a centrally located axially thickened portion,

the periphery of said thickened portion being tapered radiallyoutwardly,

one surface of said portion having a concave spherical surface,

a layer of relatively incompressible dimensionally stable low-frictionplastic material on said spherical surface of said sealing member,

said sealing member and said layer having spaced openings extendingthrough the axially thickened portion thereof and said layer.

17. The combination set forth in claim 16 wherein the angle of taper ismore axial than transverse with respect to the axis of said sealingmember.

18. The combination set forth in claim 17 including a plurality of ribssurrounding said thickened portion.

19. In a single handle faucet, the combination comprising a faucet body,

said faucet body having a pair of liquid inlets for hot I and cold waterand a liquid outlet, said faucet body having a generally sphericalsurface, a sealing member mounted on said surface and having a centrallylocated axially thickened portion,

said faucet body having a complementary recess into which said thickenedportion of said sealing member extends,

said faucet body having passages extending from said inlets to saidrecess in said faucet body,

said sealing member having openings through said thickened portionaligned with the passages in said faucet body,

a plastic valve body mounted for swinging movement within said faucetbody,

said valve body having a spherical surface complementary to saidspherical surface on said sealing member,

said valve body having passage means extending from one area on theperiphery of said spherical surface of said valve body to another areaof the periphery thereof to said valve seat,

one end of said passage means terminating along said spherical surfacesuch that said passage means is adjacent said thickened portion of saidsealing member in all portions of said valve body,

and means for guiding said valve body to selectively change thecommunication of the passage means in the valve body with the inlets ofsaid faucet body,

a second sealing member on another portion of said valve body,

said second sealing member having at least limited lateral movementrelative to said first sealing member,

a locking member mounted on said faucet body,

and a spring interposed between said locking member and said secondsealing member,

means limiting the movement of said locking member on said faucet bodywhereby there is a predetermined spring pressure of said second sealingmember on said valve body.

20. The combination set forth in claim 19 including a member interposedbetween said second sealing member and said spring.

21. The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein said spring comprisesa sinuous spring having spaced substantially flat surfaces.

22. The combination set forth in claim 19 wherein said locking membercomprises a member threaded on said faucet body and interengagingsurfaces between said member and said faucet body limiting the extent ofaxial movement of said member onto said faucet body.

1. In a single handle faucet, the combination comprising a faucet body,said faucet body having a pair of liquid inlets for hot and cold waterand a liquid outlet, said faucet body having a generally sphericalsurface, a sealing member mounted on said surface and having a centrallylocated axially thickened portion, said faucet body having acomplementary recess into which said thickened portion of said sealingmember extends, said thickened portion and said recess into which saidthickened portion extends having complementary tapered peripheralsurfaces, said faucet body having passages extending from said inlets tosaid recess in said faucet body, said sealing member having openingsthrough said thickened portion aligned with the passages in said faucetbody, a valve body mounted for swinging movement within said faucetbody, said valve body having a spherical surface complementary to saidspherical surface on said sealing member, said valve body having passagemeans extending from one area on the periphery of said spherical surfaceof said valve body to another area of the periphery thereof to saidvalve seat, one end of said passage means terminating along saidspherical surface such that said passage means is adjacent saidthickened portion of said sealing member in all portions of said valvebody, and means for guiding said valve body to selectively change thecommunication of the passage means in the valve body with the inlets ofsaid faucet body.
 2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including aplurality of ribs surrounding said thickened portiOn.
 3. The combinationset forth in claim 1 wherein said valve body includes a single passageoverlying said spaced passages in said thickened portion of said sealingmember.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve bodyincludes a diametral opening extending therethrough and a single passageextending radially and intersecting said diametral opening.
 5. Thecombination set forth in claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall of saidthickened portion and said recess in said faucet body taper radiallyoutwardly.
 6. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the angle oftaper is more axial than transverse with respect to the faucet body. 7.The combination set forth in claim 1 including a second sealing memberon another portion of said valve body, a locking member mounted on saidfaucet body, and a spring interposed between said locking member andsaid second sealing member, means limiting the movement of said lockingmember on said faucet body whereby there is a predetermined springpressure of said second sealing member on said valve body urging saidvalve body against said first sealing member such that the valve body isurged into a predetermined pressure against said first sealing member.8. The combination set forth in claim 7 including a guide memberinterposed between said second sealing member and said spring.
 9. Thecombination set forth in claim 7 wherein said spring comprises a sinuousspring having spaced substantially flat surfaces engaging said secondsealing member at circumferentially spaced points.
 10. The combinationset forth in claim 7 wherein said locking member comprises a memberthreaded on said faucet body and interengaging surfaces between saidmember and said faucet body limiting the extent of axial movement ofsaid member onto said faucet body.
 11. In a single handle faucet, thecombination comprising a faucet body, said faucet body having a pair ofliquid inlets for hot and cold water and a liquid outlet, said faucetbody having a generally spherical surface, a sealing member mounted onsaid surface and having a centrally located generally circular axiallythickened portion, said faucet body having a complementary recess intowhich said thickened portion of said sealing member extends, saidthickened portion and said recess into which said thickened portionextends having complementary tapered peripheral surfaces, said faucetbody having passages extending from said inlets to said recess in saidfaucet body.
 12. The combination set forth in claim 11 including aplurality of ribs surrounding said thickened portion.
 13. Thecombination set forth in claim 11 including a layer of relativelyincompressible dimensionally stable low friction plastic material onsaid sealing member, said sealing member having an axial projectionthereon, said faucet body having an opening into which said projectionextends.
 14. The combination set forth in claim 11 wherein theperipheral wall of said thickened portion and said recess in said faucetbody taper radially outwardly.
 15. The combination set forth in claim 14wherein the angle of taper is more axial than transverse with respect tothe faucet body.
 16. A sealing member for a single handle faucet valvecomprising a body of resilient material, said body having a centrallylocated axially thickened portion, the periphery of said thickenedportion being tapered radially outwardly, one surface of said portionhaving a concave spherical surface, a layer of relatively incompressibledimensionally stable low-friction plastic material on said sphericalsurface of said sealing member, said sealing member and said layerhaving spaced openings extending through the axially thickened portionthereof and said layer.
 17. The combination set forth in claim 16wherein the angle of taper is more axial than transverse with respect tothe axis of said sealing member.
 18. The combinaTion set forth in claim17 including a plurality of ribs surrounding said thickened portion. 19.In a single handle faucet, the combination comprising a faucet body,said faucet body having a pair of liquid inlets for hot and cold waterand a liquid outlet, said faucet body having a generally sphericalsurface, a sealing member mounted on said surface and having a centrallylocated axially thickened portion, said faucet body having acomplementary recess into which said thickened portion of said sealingmember extends, said faucet body having passages extending from saidinlets to said recess in said faucet body, said sealing member havingopenings through said thickened portion aligned with the passages insaid faucet body, a plastic valve body mounted for swinging movementwithin said faucet body, said valve body having a spherical surfacecomplementary to said spherical surface on said sealing member, saidvalve body having passage means extending from one area on the peripheryof said spherical surface of said valve body to another area of theperiphery thereof to said valve seat, one end of said passage meansterminating along said spherical surface such that said passage means isadjacent said thickened portion of said sealing member in all portionsof said valve body, and means for guiding said valve body to selectivelychange the communication of the passage means in the valve body with theinlets of said faucet body, a second sealing member on another portionof said valve body, said second sealing member having at least limitedlateral movement relative to said first sealing member, a locking membermounted on said faucet body, and a spring interposed between saidlocking member and said second sealing member, means limiting themovement of said locking member on said faucet body whereby there is apredetermined spring pressure of said second sealing member on saidvalve body.
 20. The combination set forth in claim 19 including a memberinterposed between said second sealing member and said spring.
 21. Thecombination set forth in claim 19 wherein said spring comprises asinuous spring having spaced substantially flat surfaces.
 22. Thecombination set forth in claim 19 wherein said locking member comprisesa member threaded on said faucet body and interengaging surfaces betweensaid member and said faucet body limiting the extent of axial movementof said member onto said faucet body.